Palm Beach, one of the nation's 15 largest school districts, becomes the first school board in Florida to join the initiative, which launched in Texas. Others are scheduled to consider the resolution in coming weeks.

"If we get together and take a stand, the state would have to do this," board member Chuck Shaw told the Palm Beach Post. "The time is right."

Rita Solnet, the Boca Raton education activist who brought the idea to the board, was ecstatic over the news.

"I do believe this is a turning point. I truly do," she said in an e-mail to the Gradebook. "Together we can begin to put public education back on track."

About the blog

Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.